​JOHN MADSON

​"The rewards or incentives that keeps me involved and motivated is to see the young folks that enter the program at the age of 14-15 years old, and then leave at 19-20 with confidence, motivation, maturity and a plan for the future ..."

​I started as a Fire Explorer myself in 1976, with King County Fire District #2, Burien FD. My family has been involved in the Fire Department since 1947: my Dad was one of the original members of KCFD #24 Angle lake FD, and my brother joined in 1976.

I became a volunteer firefighter with Angle Lake in 1979. Soon after, the Explorer Post in Burien (Post-911) folded up, allowing me to start Post #24 at Angle Lake with the help of the Chiefs and other members in 1980. I have been a career firefighter since 1981, working myself up to the current rank of Division Chief in Emergency Management with the now Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority. Explorer Post #24 is the oldest active Fire Program in the Country to our knowledge, and is now consolidated with three other departments to form the Zone 3 Fire Explorers. The Puget Sound Skill Center Fire & Emergency services program has also been developed (since 2004), with support and sponsorship from Post #24.

The rewards or incentives that keep me involved and motivated is to see the young folks that enter the program at the age of 14-15 years old, and then leave at 19-20 with confidence, motivation, maturity and a plan for the future that they did not have when they joined our program. In addition is the life-long relationships, the life skills, and good moral character that is developed.

If you are at all interested in Fire or Emergency services, aspire to belong to a quality group of young men and women that provide excellent community services and support the local Fire Departments in the area, or hope to attain life skills and positive relationships, you need to check out our program.

​The Zone 3 Fire Explorers would like to thank our sponsors for their continuous support and effort, which ensures our mission of training young men and women to become the Firefighters of the Future is obtainable.​THANK YOU​